Are you an ambitious professional trying to overachieve regularly. Do you imagine yourself working in a managerial/leadership position in future. Do you want to know what it takes to be a leader. Most importantly: Do you want to know what your mangers/leader read so as to understand their thought-process and tactics (to some extent). Do you get really frustrated at mgmt of your company, can't understand what they are smoking!?. Do you get irritated by some of the policies and personalities of you seniors?
If any of this applies to you then this book & review is just for you.
Some of the names have an inherent charisma associated with them. Harvard Business School is one such name. Bass Naam hi Kaafi Hain! :) I guess we don't need to go into what this names stands for as every literate person is aware of heard of it.
Harvard Business Review is one of the publications of Harvard to which most of the organizations have subscription. Harvard routinely publishes a select few articles on a specific subject in a small sized book that is available for list price of $19.99 & for $13.xx at amazon.com. They have several of such books published over the years. These books are also available in India and the price depends on from where you purchase them.
The articles are CHOSEN with some basic CRITERIA:
The author should be a well-known entity and a master in the area with actual results to associate with. Should be a good researcher with proven records
The articles are highly regarded by professionals & Harvard regulars
The articles have sort of a 'timeless' quality about them & are applicable no matter if it is old-new world order.
One thing you might need to keep in mind that these are views expressed by each individual from they have learnt/observed thru their experience. This cannot be 'the' Holy-Grail of Leadership & it doesn't need or pretend to be. What it does give you is point of views or takes of experts on the topic of Leadership.
The CONTENTS
(1) Leadership -- Warts and All by Barbara Kellerman
Discusses whether moral mistakes by leaders make them less effective as leaders (lil bit of insider trading etc). What if they have done wonders & at the same time did something (minor) of a lesser Sin! :)
(2) The Seven ages of the Leader --> Warren G. Bennis
GREAT Article: Everyone starts something either on a new project/activity or gets transitioned by existing leader (more difficult). This article gives 7 steps of a manager's role that you can apply with slight modification to every big--newer environment assignment & also to the entire career. Gives a lot of practical dos/don'ts & side effects of good (yes) and of course bad things you might have to do.
(3) When followers become Toxic --> Lynn R. Offerman
A classic case when you get confronted by followers that either fool you by flattery & do not let correct information or uncomfortable realities flow to you. It also happens when well-wishing followers try to collectively (majority) persuade you to do something you know isn't optimal way. Author gives a parallel from society that when you behave as per majority there is less chance of going wrong & also you save time by using proven methods! (easy-way). But majority can be wrong & gravely at times...! How to deal with these 2 conditions: Persuasion to something wrong by majority & also Flattery/manipulated information flow. This article could be a life saver.
(4) Putting Leaders on the Couch: A Conversation with Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries --> By Diane L. Coutu
Classic one: Interviews/information sharing with proven leaders in the business.
(5) Managers and Leaders: Are they Different? --> By Abraham Zleznik
A ''WOW!'' Article : What are managers What are leaders. Basic differences between them. Examples. How orgs need both of them & how US Orgs are currently over-managed & under-lead. Basically, managers: coordinate, balance, plan, organize, control etc & leaders: orient, set direction, manage/implement change, influence, mentor. Managers do what they do out of necessity, leaders do what they do as they want to do it! (passion/enthusiasm).
(6) What Makes a Leader --> By Daniel Goleman
Author of Emotional Intelligence & Working with Em. Int. The simple fact that survey of 200 orgs yields is that departments of the same size etc do 20% more revenues than others where leaders implement 'Emotional Intelligence'. A GREAT/Condensed article about What is it, How you can observe/evaluate it in peers/subordinates (Self assessment, Self control/regulation, Motivation, Empathy & Social skill). Practical examples are just wonderful & something you can see everyday!
(7) Narcissistic Leaders: The Incredible Pros, the Inevitable Cons --> By Michael Maccoby
A very good article.... talks about new age of leaders that are flashy, extrovert typically appearing on the front-pages of the magazines etc regularly. Discussed inherent flaws in such personalities & how they can mitigate them without changing their personality or just plain be aware of the fatal flaws they have due to some other obvious virtues. Such leaders can lead to a great success or a total disaster as they tend NOT to 'listen' to analytical--cautionary talks too often. Also, advises subordinates on how to work with them.
(8) Understanding Leadership --> By W.CH. Prentice
This is about People leadership. Understanding people: they are complex & they are different. How people respond to several things like ambition, patriotism, love of good things, boredom, self-doubt, desires, emotions etc. It discuses importance of relationships with people, drawbacks of plain perceptions, hindrance of individuals to be a 'sub-ordinate' of someone. In a nutshell, the article describes leader as an orchestra-leader, cater to every individual to work towards a common goal and effect.
WHAT MAKES the ARTICLES GREAT:
-- No nonsense approach, street-smart to the point language
-- Practical examples, Data to support opinions/facts
-- A 'condensed' sort of stuff by authors/professionals in a few pages that usually is a material of a reasonably big book
-- You save a lot of time, you get orientated very fast
-- It confirms/affirms your sub-conscious or partial understanding of many things. Gives them concrete basis.
My FAVORITES: Hell, all of them but if I had to put them in order to read then I would put them as : (6), (8), (2), (3), (5), (8), (7), 4)
